End to Friday prison releases calls time on damaging race against the clock- Ministry of Justice

Posted June 30th, 2023 in bills, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists, statistics by tracey

‘Thousands of prisoners vulnerable to addiction, mental health issues or homelessness will no longer be released on Fridays as a new Bill to reduce reoffending becomes law today (29 June 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Pioneering initiative to force offenders to get clean or face jail time – Ministry of Justice

‘Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Retired judges ‘should get a practising certificate’ before returning – report – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, judges, judiciary, Law Society, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement by tracey

‘Retired judges wishing to return to legal work should obtain a practising certificate from the Law Society or Bar Standards Board, an academic report has suggested.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Offenders on clean-up duty in anti-social behaviour crackdown – Ministry of Justice

‘New Community Payback teams to clean up fly-tipping or vandalism within 48 hours.’

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Ministry of Justice, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Serial killer Levi Bellfield wins battle to marry in prison – The Independent

‘Serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be allowed to marry after prison officials accepted there is no way to stop him under current laws.’

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The Independent, 16th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Role of Lord Chancellor “at risk of being downgraded” – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2023 in budgets, courts, delay, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The role of Lord Chancellor is “at risk of being downgraded” because the operation of the courts is now “only a very small part” of what the office-holder does, the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ sets up online procedure rule committee for Civil, Family and Tribunal jurisdictions – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a new committee to help guide judges, legal representatives and litigants through online court procedures.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New how-to guide to help families access trust funds of disabled young adults – Ministry of Justice

‘Parents who care for disabled young people will be better supported to access vital savings – including Child Trust Funds – thanks to the launch of a new easy-to-use guide.’

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Ministry of Justice, 9th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Time from issue to trial in county court hits record high of 80 weeks – Legal Futures

‘The number of claims lodged at the county court has returned to near pre-Covid levels but the time between issue and trial has reached a new all-time high, according to the latest government figures.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Access to vital legal support extended to millions of vulnerable people – Ministry of Justice

‘Domestic abuse victims and children are among millions more people who will have access to legal aid under major government investment to support those who need it most.’

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Ministry of Justice, 25th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Time to look again at the lord chancellor’s role – lord chief justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 25th, 2023 in lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news, speeches by tracey

‘The time may have come for the role of lord chancellor to be looked at again, the lord chief justice said yesterday as he attended the swearing in of the seventh holder of the ancient post in six years.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail – Ministry of Justice

‘Vile trolls who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to encourage others to cause themselves serious harm will face prosecution as part of an overhaul of online safety laws announced today (18 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sex abuse victims ‘must get specialist support’ – BBC News

‘Encouraging abuse victims to come forward without a specialist support system in place is “totally irresponsible”, campaigners have said.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protection of the public and the retrospective application of penalties – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 29 November 2019 Usman Khan attended a rehabilitation event at Fishmongers’ Hall and stabbed five people, two fatally. On 2 February 2020 Sudesh Amman attacked two passers-by in Streatham High Road with a knife before being shot dead by police. Both men had previously been convicted of terrorism offences. Both men had been automatically released on licence halfway through their custodial sentences.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th May 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Thousands more can apply to become judges under plans to expand diversity – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 12th, 2023 in diversity, judiciary, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘New rules will see up to 4,500 more lawyers from diverse backgrounds eligible to become judges under plans announced by the government today (11 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 11th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Court photography ban under review in transparency drive – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A ban imposed nearly 100 years ago on photography in courts could be lifted under ideas being floated by the government to make the justice system more transparent.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Murderer wins High Court case over transfer to open prison conditions – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2023 in appeals, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, murder, news, parole, prisons, sentencing by tracey

‘A former soldier who murdered a mother-of-three and dismembered her body has won a High Court challenge over his transfer to open prison conditions.’

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The Independent, 11th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family members taking on vulnerable children to receive better legal support – Ministry of Justice

‘Extended family members seeking to provide long-term, stable care for vulnerable children will be able to access free legal advice, thanks to new government investment announced today (30 April 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 1st May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Legal aid widened but grandparents ‘will fall through justice gap’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The scope of legal aid has been widened to family and friends applying to look after a vulnerable child – however, the Law Society says the changes do not go far enough.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk